A non-exhaustive review of the holidays that we celebrated at August Network for the month of March, including a brief description and infographic honoring each holiday.

1. International Holidays
AUGUST NETWORK • MARCH 2020
Aparna Vashisht-
Rota
Natalia Cevallos
Whitney Camarena

2. Overview
Mar 1. South Korea - Independence Movement Day
Mar 6. Ghana - Independence Day
Mar 8. International Women's Day
Mar 9. Hindu - Holi
Mar 10. Jewish - Purim
Mar 12. Mauritius - Independence and Republic Day
Mar 17. Christian - Saint Patrick’s Day
Mar 20. Tunisia - Independence Day
Mar 22. Muslim - Isra and Mi'raj
Mar 23. Pakistan - Pakistan Day
Mar 25. Greece - Independence Day

3. Mar 1. South Korea - Independence Movement Day
The Independence Movement Day holiday, also
known as the Sam-il Movement, on Mar. 1st, 2020,
commemorates the 1919 public display of Korean
resistance to Japanese military rule, in which 7,500
peaceful protestors were killed by Japanese militia
and 16,000 more were left injured. This day of
remembrance includes reading the Korean
Declaration of Independence in Seoul’s Pagoda
Park, followed by parades, concerts, and exhibitions
all displaying 태극기 (Taegeukgi), the Korean flag.

4. Mar 6. Ghana - Independence Day
The Ghanaian Independence Day holiday, on Mar.
6, 2020, marks the 1957 declaration of
independence from the United Kingdom by Prime
Minister Kwame Nkrumah, which made Ghana the
first sub-Saharan African country to achieve
independence from the UK. The day is celebrated
with a national parade that draws hundreds of
attendees.

5. Mar 8. International Women's Day
The International Women's Day holiday, on Mar. 8,
2020, recognizes women around the world for their
achievements and highlights efforts to combat
gender discrimination. Parades and concerts are
hosted around the globe, often with an annual
theme aimed at increasing equity for all women
regardless of their national, cultural, religious,
linguistic, socioeconomic, or political identities.

6. Mar 9. Hindu - Holi
The Hindu Holi holiday, on Mar. 9, 2020 is
commemorates two main legends from Hindu
Mythology: the cremation of Holika and the love
story of Krishna and Radha. The multi-day festival
begins on Holi Dahan, in which people gather to eat
their favorite foods around large bonfires in the full
moon to cleanse the air of bad spirits. The festivities
continue into the following day(s - up to 16 in
Vrindavan and Mathura), when people flood the
streets with water and colorful powders to host
parades, sing, and dance with one another regardless
of caste differences.

7. Mar 10. Jewish - Purim
The Purim holiday, on Mar. 10, 2020,
commemorates the day when Queen Esther saved
the Jewish people from execution by Haman, the
advisor to the Persian king. Jewish traditions on this
day include sharing a drink of mishloach manot at a
celebratory meal known as a seudat Purim,
exchanging gifts, and engaging in matanot l'evyonim
(giving to charity).

8. Mar 12. Mauritius - Independence and Republic Day
The Mauritian Independence and Republic Day,
also known as National Day, on Mar. 12, 2020,
commemorates the 1968 adoption of their
constitution of independence as a constitutional
monarchy. Celebrations include hosting an official
flag-raising ceremony, followed by military parades
and live music.

9. Mar 17. Christian - Saint Patrick’s Day
The Saint Patrick's Day holiday, also known as the
Feast of Saint Patrick (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, "the
Day of the Festival of Patrick"), on Mar. 17, 2020, is
a cultural and religious celebration that
commemorates the the traditional death date of
Saint Patrick, who was the foremost patron saint of
Ireland. Festivities include attending parades,
wearing green (or getting pinched if caught without
the color displayed), and drinking Irish alcohol.

10. Mar 20. Tunisia - Independence Day
The Tunisian Independence Day holiday, on Mar.
20, 2020, marks the 1957 declaration of
independence from France by president Habib
Bourguiba. Festivities include government-hosted
luncheons, public speeches, and wreath-laying
ceremonies at cemeteries in honor of the people who
gave their lives for independence.

11. Mar 22. Muslim - Isra and Mi'raj
The Isra and Mi'raj holiday, also known as Al Isra'
wal Miraj, on Mar. 22, 2020, marks the night that
Allah (God) took Mohammad (also known as
Mohammed or Muhammed) on a journey from
Mecca to Jerusalem and then to heaven, in
accordance with Islamic holy texts.This date
correlates to the 27th day of the month of Rajab, the
seventh month in the Islamic calendar. Celebrations
include prayers and keeping the lights on all night.

12. Mar 23. Pakistan - Pakistan Day
The Pakistan Day (Urdu: ‫یوم‬‫پاکستان‬ , lit. Youm-e-
Pakistan) holiday, also known as Pakistan
Resolution Day and Republic Day, on Mar. 23,
2020, commemorates the 1940 Lahore Resolution
and adoption of the first constitution of Pakistan in
1956, making it the world's first Islamic republic.
Celebrations include a military parade and putting
up decorations.

13. Mar 25. Greece - Independence Day
The Greek Independence Day holiday, on Mar. 25,
2020, commemorates the start of the War of Greek
Independence in 1821. Celebrations include school
flag parades across multiple towns and villages
throughout Greece as well as an armed forces parade
in Athens.

14. If there is a holiday we missed and you’d like to
add it to the list; email the official name, region
of origin, and date to:
socialmedia@augustnetwork.com

15. Wishing everyone
a happy and
healthy month of
celebration!